Sliced bacon package



Dec. 20; 1960 R. M. DUNNING 2,955,283

SLICED BACON PACKAGE Filed May 10, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Dec.20, 1960 R. M. DUNNING SLICED BACON PACKAGE ii If? rill 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed May 10, 1956 INVENTOR k k W E w H. |H J /|1 r a a M m 2 U Q 4 Z 02 w 7 f I 4 L n 5 n 0 W 2 n u w Dec. 20, 1960 R. M. DUNNING SLICED BACONPACKAGE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 10, 1956 w um-W "W "I" containing ameasured amount of sliced bacon. bacon is usually placed in thesepaokages w'ith the longitudinal edges of the strips in overlappingrelation so that the strips are in-stepped re'ation. As a result of thisar- United States Patent i 2,965,283 SLICED BACON PACKAGE Robert M.Dunning, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to wanna Paper Products Company, acorporation of Minnesota Filed May 10, 1 956,'Ser. No. 584,100

5 Claims. (Cl. 229 -87) This invention relatesto an improvement inpackages and deals particularly with a package useful in containingsliced bacon or 'a similar product.

Various types of packages have been produced for The rangement, thelongitudinal edges of the package may be thinner than the remainder ofthe package as the ends strips 'of the series are not built up inthicknessby super- It has been found that by providing a package folderhaving end walls which'taper in thickness toward their juncture with thesides of the package, the desired result may be obtained. Such anarrangement-is provided by forming the end walls with substantiallyparallel fold lines throughout the major portion of their length and byproviding converging fold lines connecting the ends of these fold lineswith the juncture between the end walls and the sides of the package. Asa result a package is provided which is relativey thin or which may haveno side walls along the longitudinal edges of the package and yet whichis relatively thick throughout the central part of the package. Afurther feature of the preferred form of construction of the inventionresides in the provision of a package having substantially flat upperand lower surfaces and having tapering edge portions which taper inthickness to the marginal longitudinal edges of the package. As aresult. the packages may be paced one upon the other and will stackeifectively for storage'o'r for display but at the same time the packageis provided with the proper cross-sectional shape.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention willbe more clearly and fully set forth in the fol'owing specification andclaims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bacon package showing the newconstruction.

Figure 2 is a'top plan view of the package illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the package shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the package isformed.

Figure 5' is a diagrammatic view of a slightly different form of blankfrom that illustrated inFigure 4-.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of package in whichthe bacon is entirely enclosed.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the package shown in Figure 6- afterthepackage has-been sealed.

Figure8 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the package ofFigures 6 and 7 is "formed.

Bacon packages may be of several types. Some such imposed layers ofbacon. Thus it is the purpose of'the present invention to provide apackage where the longitudinal edges are thinner than the centralportions of the package.

fine

packages include a bottom-panel, a pair of end panels which fold overthe bottompanel Ito overlie theends of package construction which.entirely enc'oses the bacon Is'trips. This type of package may beprovidedvwith a window through which portions of the overlapped stripsare visible if it is so desired. The present invention is designed toform either of these types of packages, v it being only'necessary tomodify thegshape and form of the various closing flaps to accomplish.eitherresults.

In'the .form of construction illustrated in Figures .1

to 4 of the "drawings, the bottom panel 10 is foldably connected along afold line 11 to a cover flap or panel '12. vThe ends of the bottom panel10 are foldably connected-to end wall panels 13 and 14. The fold linesconnecting the bottom panel to the end wall panels is not a straightfoldline. In thearrangement illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings, thefold lines connecting the bottom panel tothe'end wal panels includeparallel fold lines 15 and 16 respectively which extend the major partof the distance between the free edge 17 of the bottom panel 10 andthefoldededge 11 thereof. Anangularly inclined foldline 19extends fromone end of the 'foldlinelSt'o the freeedge'17and a similarly inclined'fold ine 20 forms an extension of the. foldline 15 and extending to thejuncture between the bottom panel 10 and the fold line 11.

The fold line 16 also extends the major-portion of the width ofthebottom panel 10 and one end of this'fold line is provided with'anangular continuation 22 which extends to the free'edge 17 at the panellit-and includes an angular extension 23 which extends from the'foldline 16 to the juncture betweenthe panel 10 and'the cover panel 12.

The end wall 13 is defined by a fold line 24 which extends parallel toand spaced from the fold line '15. The fold line 24 is coextensive withthe fold line '15 and the ends of this fold line 24 are connected byangularly inclined extensions 25 and '26 to the' outer ends of'the foldline e'xtensions19 and 20. In other words the fold'lines 19 and 25diverge apart from the marginal edge :17 of the bottom panel to "thespaced fold lines '15 and 24. Similarly the fold lines 20'and 26 divergeapart from the fold line 11 to the ends of the fold'lines 15 and 24. Inother words in this form of construction, the end wal 13'is generallyhexagonal in shape.

The end wall 14 is shaped similarly to the end Wall 13. The end wall 14is connected by a fold line 27 "to the top cover flap or panel 29. Thefold line 27 is parallel to the fo'd line 16 and coextensive therewith.The ends of the fold line 27 areconnected by angularly inclinedextensions 30 and 31m the panel edge 17 and the panel edge 11respectively. Thus the end wall l-4 is generally hexagonal in shapea'though the length of the end walls are much greater than the heightthereof.

The fold line' 24 with its extensions 25 and 2 6-foldably connect theend wall 13 to a top coverflap or panel 32*. Both the top panel 32 andthe top panel 29 arepro vided with looking slits 33 and 34 respectivelyby means at which the top cover flaps or panels 32 and 29 ma beconnected to the cover panel 12. g

When the package A is us'edthestr'ips of baconare placed upon the bottompanel 10 with the longitudinal edges in overlapping relation and withtheends ofthe strips between the foldlines-15 and 16. Thepanelier flap12 is then foldedab'outits fold lineal-dastoioverlie one orniore of theoverlappedjstrips of bacon. Tins-flap thus normally conceals the majorportion of the last strip of bacon of the series whlch would otherwisebe exposed in its entirety. The end walls 13 and 14 are then bentupwardly in right angular relation to the bottom panel 10. This actioncauses the bottom panel 10 to flex upwardly near the edges 17 and 11 ofthe bottom panel to follow the confirmation of the fold line 15 and itsextensions 19 and 20.

The top flaps 32 and 29 are the next folded downwardly to overlie theends of the strips of bacon. During this folding operation, the ends ofthe flaps 32 and 29 which are in alignment with the edges 17 and 11 of"the bottom panel 10 also fiex downwardly to follow the confirmation ofthe fold line 24 and its extensions 25 and 26 and the confirmation ofthe fold line 27 and its extensions 30 and 31. As a result, when viewedfrom the end, the package is generally hexagonal in sh pe.

Because of the irregular width of the end panels 13 and 14, theresulting folded package is longer along its longitudinal edges thanthrough the center portion of the package. In other words, the end walls13 and 14 also flex from the ends of the parallel fold line portions tothe point where the fold line extensions converge together. As a resultthe package is not entirely rectangular in plan after it has beenfolded. However, the package may be overw-rapped with a rectangularsheet of transparent material such as 35 as the increase in length alongthe longitudinal edges of the packages compensates for the increase inheight of the end walls of the shorter intermediate portion of thepackage. During the folding of the top flaps 32 and 29, the locking cuts33 and 34 are engaged with the marginal edge of the panel 12 to hold thefolder in close position prior to the overwrapping operation. Actually,the overwrapping of the package is optional but is usually done toprotect the carton contents. Alternatively, a covering sheet may beadhered to the bottom panel 10 and to project therefrom in a directionopposite the projection of the panel 12 and this covering sheet may befolded to overlie the bacon before the various fiaps are folded intocovering position.

In Figure of the drawings I disclosed a slightly modified form ofconstruction which does not have many of the advantages described inconjunctionwith the package A but which forms a package of unusualappearance. The package B illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawingsincludes a bottom panel 36 which is foldably connected along onelongitudinal edge by a fold line 37 to a cover or side panel 39. Theends of the bottom panel 36 are connected along arcuate fold lines 40and 41 to end walls 42 and 43 respectively. The center of arcuation ofthe fold lines 40 and 41 is externally of the bottom panel 36 so thatthe ends of the bottom panel are concave.

The end walls 42 and 43 are connected along second arcuate fold lines 44and 45,to cover panels 46 and 47 respectively. The foldlines 44 and 45are arcuate in a direction opposite to the arcuation of the fold lines40 and 41.so that the end walls 42 and 43 are relatively .thick at apoint midway between the free edge 49 of the bottom panel and the foldline 37. These end walls 42 and 43 taper to a minimum height at the endsso that the lfold lines converge together at each end of the end we] s.

This arrangement has the disadvantage that when the package is folded,the bottom panel 36 as well as the top panels 46 and 47 are boweddownwardly and up wardly respectively resulting in a package which iscontinuously rounded from one .edge to the other. As a result of thisarrangement, the packages will not stack efiectively and thereforpackages of this type are not entirely the equivalent of the package A.

g In Figures 6, 7, 8, of the drawings I disclosed a modified form ofpackage, this package being indicated in general by the letter C. As isindicated in Figure 8 of thedrawings, the blank from which the packageC" is made is generally rectangular in form. It includes a bottom panel50 which is foldably connectedalong its longitudinal edges by fold lines51 and 52 to generally triangular closing flaps 53 and 54 respectively.The ends of the bottom panel 50 are foldably connected to end walls 55and 56 by parallel fold lines 57 and 59 which extend the major portionof the width of the bottom panel and are provided with angularlyinclined extensions connecting the ends of these fold lines to the sideedges of the bottom panel. Fold line extensions 60 and 61 connect theends of the fold line 57 with the sides 51 and 52 of the bottom panel 50while similar fold line extensions 62 and 63 connect the ends of thefold line 59 with the bottom panel edges 51 and 52. The various foldline extensions incline outwardly from the center of the bottom panel 51so that the fold lines 57 and 59 are closer together than are the endsof the fold line extensions.

The end walls 55 and 56 are fodably connected to closing flaps 64 and 65which are generally triangular in shape. The fold lines connecting theend walls to the flaps 64 and 65 include parallel fold line portions 66and 67 which'are connected by fold line extensions to the side edges ofthe bottom panel 50. Fold line extensions 69 and 70 connect the ends ofthe fold line 66 to a juncture with the fold lines 51 and 52 while foldline extensions 71 and 72 connect the ends of the fold line 67 to ajuncture with the fold lines 51 and 52. As a result of this arrangement,the end walls 55 and 56 are generally hexagonal in shape and the ends ofend walls are of relatively no height while the main portions of theseend walls are of sufiicient height to contain the strips of bacon withinthe closed package.

As is indicated in the drawings, the triangular flaps 53 and 54 areconnected to the fold line 51 by generally parallel end edges 73 and theclosing flaps 64 and 65 are also connected to the ends of the side walls55 and 56 by generally parallel end portions 74. This arrangement isprovided so that the various flaps will overlap when folded intoposition to enclose the folder contents.

In the particular arrangement illustrated, a window opening 75 is cut inthe center of the bottom panel 50 and a generally rectangulartransparent sheet 76 is adhered to the bottom panel 50 particularlyaround the window opening 70 as by the adhesive 77. If no package liningis required, the transparent covering 76 may extend only over the windowopening 75 to slightly overlap the marginal edges of the bottom panel.However, if a package liner is desired, the transparent sheet 76 ispractically coextensive with the blank from which the package is placednoon the bottom panel 50 between the fold lines 57 and 59, and the endwalls 55 and 56 are folded upwardly into right angular relation with thebottom panel.

This folding causes the longitudinal edges of the bottom panel to foldupwardly to some extent to follow the contour of the fold lineextensions 60 and 61 at one end of the package and the fold lines 62 and63 at the other end thereof. The flaps 64 and 65 are then folded tooverlie the package contents, these flaps being flexed out of a commonplane due to the angular inclination of the fold lines 69 and 70 at oneend of the package and the fold line extensions 71 and 72 at theopposite end thereof. The closing flaps 53 and 54 are then folded tooverlie the first folded flaps. Any convenient means is provided forsealing the flaps in closed position, Figure 7 illustrating a pair ofshort lengths of pressure sensitive tape 80 for this purpose. Theseshort lengths of tape overlie the junctures between certain of the flapsand seal the package in closed position.

It will be seen that the package C when folded as indicated in Figures 6and 7 of the drawings, has an end to that shown in Figure 3 of thedrawings. When the folded package is viewed in plan as in Figure 7 ofthe drawings, they will be seen that the central portions of the endwalls which are defined by the parallel fold lines are somewhat closertogether than the ends of the end walls, the end walls flexing outwardlyso that the longitudinal edges of the package are longer than the centerportion thereof. The package thus formed is accordingly distinctive inappearance as it is of unusual shape. At the same time, however, the topand bottom surfaces of the package are parallel so that the packageswill stack readily and will rest flat one upon the other when placed ina shipping container or placed on display.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principlesof construction and operation of my package and while I have endeavoredto set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understoodthat ohvious changes may be made within the scope of the followingclaims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A carton including a paperboard sheet cut and creased to provide abase panel having opposed parallel edges, relatively narrow end wallsfoldably connected to the remaining edges of said base panel, and toppanels hingedly connected to said end walls, said end walls beinggenerally hexagonal in shape and defined by parallel lines of fold atright angles to said parallel edges and extending the major portion ofthe distance between said parallel edges, and relatively shortconverging fold lines connecting the ends of said parallel fold linesand said parallel edges, the base panel being connected to the end wallsalong three adjoining edges of said hexagonal end walls, and the toppanels being foldably connected to the remaining three edges of saidhexagonal end walls the major portions of the end walls between saidparallel fold lines being in parallel relation and at substantiallyright angles to said base panel, the major portions of said top panelsand said base panel between the parallel portions of said end wallsbeing substantially flat and parallel, the edge portions of said basepanel and top panels connected to said converging fold lines beingflexed into converging relation.

2. The structure of claim 1 and including an additional top panelfoldably connected to one of said parallel edges of said base panel.

3. The structure of claim 1 and including a top panel foldably connectedto each of said parallel edges of said base panel.

4. A carton including a paperboard sheet cut and creased to provide abase panel having opposed parallel edges, relatively narrow end wallsfoldably connected to the remaining edges of said base panel, and toppanels hingedly connected to said end walls, said end walls beinggenerally hexagonal in shape and defined by parallel lines of fold atright angles to said parallel edges and extending the major portion ofthe distance between said parallel edges, and relatively shortconverging fold lines connecting the ends of said parallel fold linesand said parallel edges, the base panel being connected to the end wallsalong three adjoining edges of said hexagonal end walls, and the toppanels being foldably connected to the remaining three edges of saidhexagonal end walls, the major portions of the end walls between saidparallel told lines being in parallel relation and at substantiallyright angles to said base panel, the end portions of said end wallsbetween said converging fold lines angling outwardly beyond saidparallel portions of said end walls, the major portions of said toppanels and said base panel between the parallel portions of said endwalls being substantially fiat and parallel, the edge portions of saidbase panel and top panels connected to said converging told lines beingflexed into converging relation.

5. A carton folder including a base panel of generally rectangularoutline having opposed parallel edges, 3. narrow end wall foldablyconnected to a third edge of said base panel, said end wall beinggenerally hexagonal in outline and being defined by parallel fold linesextending at right angles to said parallel edges across the majorportion of the distance between said parallel edges and terminatingshort of the parallel edges, and by converging fold 'lines extendingfrom the ends of the parallel fold lines to the parallel edges of thebase panel, said base panel being connected to said hexagonal end wallalong one of said parallel fold lines and the two adjoining of saidconverging fold lines, a top panel foldably connected to said end wallalong the remaining of said fold lines, said end wall holding the majorportions of said base panel and top panel parallel when these panels arein right angular relation to said end wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,050,894 Paige Aug. 11, 1936 2,465,841 Bonini Mar. 29, 1949 2,533,554Byerly Dec. 12, 1950 2,565,976 Mayer et al Aug. 28, 1951 2,665,835Bergstein Jan. 12, 1954 2,681,143 Guyer June 15, 1954 2,753,107 RinglerJuly 3, 1956 2,755,986 Buttery July 24, 1956 2,761,614 Zinser Sept. 4,1956 2,768,779 Bonini Oct. 30, 1956 2,804,258 Fetter Aug. 27, 1957FOREIGN PATENTS 211,560 Great Britain Feb. 20, 1924

